DA-BFAR’s MMK! Phils. Coastal Mgt. Program Cited As World Model By UN

In the 2022 Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal last year, the United Nations cited the Philippine Coastal Management Program “Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan” as one of the outstanding models in protecting and developing coastal communities in the world.
I am writing about this heartwarming development again today because it was at about this time when it was announced by the UN Ocean Conference that MMK, which was launched in 2016 by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR), made it to the list of top models in the world’s coastal management initiatives.
It was a proud moment for me, even if I was already out of government at that time, because I personally conceptualized and designed the Malinis at Masagangn Karagatan (MMK) Program during the first year of my short stint as Secretary of Agriculture.
The MMK, just like the other programs which I conceptualized and designed – the SAAD Program, 4Ks for the tribal communities, Easy Access Loaning Program under PLEA and SURE, FB Pagbabago and Solar-Powered Irrigation Systems – were products of my actual engagement with farmers and fisherfolk in the field.
The MMK, one of the banner programs of President Rodrigo Duterte launched by the DA-BFAR in 2016, was designed to encourage coastal communities in the country to clean and protect their coastal areas.
I conceptualized it after seeing the degradation of the coastal areas in my travels around the country, an idea which I presented to the DA-BFAR led by then National Director Eduardo Gongona.
Supported by coastal management experts and technical staff, Gongona and BFAR worked on the details and sourced funds for the program which was actually a national search for the Cleanest Coastal Towns in the country
The yearly competition offered financial rewards to Local Government Units starting from P2-M for provincial winners, P5-M for Regional Champions and P30-M for the National Champion.
The criteria in selecting the winners were:
1. The Coastal Town Must Have a declared Marine Sanctuary;
2. There Must Be a Mangrove Replanting and Protection Program;
3. There Must Be a 3-Month Closed Fishing Season to allow fish to spawn;
4. There must be no incidence of illegal fishing;
5. The coastal area must be free of trash and garbage.
In the first MMK Awarding Ceremony in 2017, the town of Cortes, Surigao del Sur was adjudged National Champion with Palompon, Leyte and Calatagan, Batangas as first and second runner-ups.
The awarding was made in Malacanang with President Duterte personally giving out the trophies and cash prizes to the winners.
The program was embraced by the coastal communities with each one of them looking forward to the yearly competition while at the same time improving their coastal areas.
The MMK is now institutionalized and the awards have become the source of pride for the officials and the people and the huge cash prizes boost the livelihood of the fisherfolk in the communities.
The MMK was one of the governance innovations that I conceptualized and designed following my endless journeys into the remotest areas of the country as Governor, DA Secretary and later Chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority.
The SAAD Program (Special Area for Agricultural Development, which I designed when I was a young Governor of North Cotabato which was cited by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) as one of the most effective poverty-alleviation programs of government and now the MMK which received citation from no less than the United Nations are proofs that well-grounded programs could survive the political shifting sands.
As the creator of these programs, I am deeply honored that these had been institutionalized.
In the sunset years of my life, I would be proud to tell my grandchildren that their grandfather left behind legacies of responsive and effective governance models by simply meeting and listening to people in the remotest areas of the country.
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!